Roland D-50

About the Roland D-50

The D-50's LA (Linear Arithmetic) synthesis layers a brief PCM sample - a percussive pluck, breath noise, or metallic strike - onto the attack of an otherwise synthesized tone, then lets that synthesized component sustain and evolve on its own. This hybrid approach let Roland create sounds with a realistic, detailed attack transient that pure subtractive synthesis of the era couldn't produce, while avoiding the huge sample memory a fully sample-based instrument would require.

The D-50's factory sounds, particularly its lush pad and bell-like tones, became inescapable across late-1980s pop and film scoring, and its built-in chorus and reverb effects - unusual to have onboard at the time - meant those signature sounds arrived essentially performance-ready rather than needing extensive outboard processing to sound finished.

Where to buy

• Reverb Roland D-50 Synthesizer Card 1987 - 1989 - 00 Original Factory Sounds - D50 D550 88 EUR Best price View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 - Official Manual for the Roland D50 Synthesizer - excellent 100 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 // Voice ROM Data Card // PD-D50-01 - SUSTAIN GROUP // BOXED 165 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black 550 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 749 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer with card PN-D50-00 and case 789 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 Linear Synthesizer digital synth New battery & Display w/ case 829 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 - Linear Synth Classic 1987 - PSU Included - Manual Included - Tested 899 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black 932 EUR View details
• Reverb ROLAND D-50 Linear Synthesizer Classic keyboard famous 80s vintage sounds 999 EUR View details
• Reverb Roland D50 - Legendary Synthesizer - Accessories - Excellent Condition - Revised 1.000 EUR View details

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Source: https://reverb.com/item/99573582-roland-d-50-61-key-linear-synthesizer-1987-1992-black

Sound character of the Roland D-50

Roland's Linear Arithmetic synthesis layers short digital PCM samples (for sharp, bright transient attacks like a piano hammer or plucked string) onto sustained analog-modeled subtractive tones, plus a built-in digital chorus/reverb - the combination that gave the D-50 its crisp, airy, unmistakably 'digital-era' sound distinct from purely analog synths.

Technical data for the Roland D-50

Price history for the Roland D-50

Cheapest seen: 88 EUR  ·  Most expensive seen: 1.000 EUR

The history of the Roland D-50

Released in 1987, the Roland D-50 introduced Linear Arithmetic synthesis and became one of the defining synthesizer sounds of the late 1980s.